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U.S. Isolationism Is Nothing New

American involvement in the great hot and cold world conflicts of the 20th century also had to overcome an unsupportive public.

March 25, 2014 2:40 p.m. ET

William Galston states that Americans are increasingly reluctant to become involved in international issues because of economic difficulties at home ("The Economic Roots of American Retreat," Politics & Ideas, March 19). Yet American involvement in the great hot and cold world conflicts of the 20th century also had to overcome an unsupportive public, and I doubt Americans felt particularly good about their economic prospects in 1917, 1940, 1960 or 1981.